These honey roasted carrots made in the air fryer are easy, budget-friendly, and elegant-all in one recipe! It's one of my favorite simple side dishes for Easter ham or holiday roasts with just 4 ingredients and ready in less than 15 minutes.
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I think carrots are often overlooked and underappreciated.
This affordable (cheap) root vegetable is already sweet, but when you roast it with honey, the flavor deepens and so does the color. It goes from orange to a rich coral with those yummy roasted char marks.
If you're like me, you may love cooking, but let’s be honest—preparing dinner for special occasions can be stressful. I always have carrots in my fridge, so if I need a last minute vegetable side dish, I'm reaching for those carrots!
This is also where your air fryer comes in. It’s your best friend for whipping up cheap, delicious, yet "fancy" side dishes with minimal effort.
You can cook full meals in the air fryer—everything from mini meatloaves to BBQ chicken wings.
For small batch air fry cooking, I love the Ninja 4 quart basket style air fryer. If you are cooking for a crowd, try the Instant brand 9 quart Vortex XL Versa Zone air fryer.
Roasted carrots in the air fryer cook quickly, need very little oil, and still come out packed with flavor.
Serve these air fryer honey roasted carrots with Easy Green Beans with Bacon (stovetop) or my Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon. Don't forget the No Knead Artisan Bread!
Shortcuts
- Use an air fryer for quick roasting – The air fryer cooks carrots in a fraction of the time compared to oven roasting. It also won’t heat up your whole kitchen.
- Cutting them into 2 inch pieces is quick and easy with minimal knife skills needed.
- Skip the peeling with baby carrots – If you’re short on time, swap whole carrots for peeled "baby" carrots. Just be sure to drain and pat them dry so they roast properly instead of steaming.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make honey roasted carrots!
Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.
- Whole carrots – Avoid those with cracks or dark spots. These can indicate that the carrot is drying out or starting to spoil.
- Honey – I'm a huge fan of local honey. Check your local markets and mom and pop stores for
- Olive oil or vegetable oil – Both oils work well for making air fryer roasted carrots. Olive oil can add a hint of fruity flavor. Vegetable oil, meanwhile, has a neutral taste and helps the carrots roast evenly without drying out or sticking to the basket.
- Salt – You can also use sea salt or flaky salt for a little extra crunch and texture.
- Freshly ground black pepper - Adding this is optional, but it’s a great addition if you love spicy food or want your carrots to have a little heat.
Substitutions & Variations
Switch things up with fun flavor twists.
- Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots – If you like a little heat, swap regular honey for hot honey. You can also sprinkle in a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes before air frying for extra kick.
- Herb-Roasted Carrots – Fresh or dried herbs add another layer of flavor to this dish. Try parsley, dill, rosemary, or thyme for a more savory twist. Sprinkle them on before roasting or toss them in afterward.
- Butter for Extra Richness – Swap the oil for melted butter if you want a richer, slightly creamy flavor.
- Maple-Glazed Carrots – If you don’t have honey on hand or just prefer a different flavor, use maple syrup instead. It gives the carrots a slightly deeper sweetness with a hint of caramel flavor.
Make Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Parsnips have a similar shape and texture to carrots but bring a slightly sweet, nutty flavor with a hint of licorice (anise). For a colorful and flavorful twist, replace half of the carrots with parsnips before roasting.
How to Make the Best Roasted Carrots in Air Fryer
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Peel and cut the carrots into evenly sized pieces (about 2 inches).
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F to 400°F for 3 minutes.
- Combine the honey and oil in a bowl.
- Toss carrots with the honey mixture. Sprinkle with salt and the black pepper, if using.
- Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes until tender and edges are dark brown.
- Add the cooked carrots back in the same bowl to glaze them with any honey left in the bowl.
Pro Tips
Cut the carrots for even cooking. The thicker ends of the carrots take longer to cook, so cut them in halves or quarters to match the thinner pieces.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Roasted Carrots
- Honey roasted carrots can be enjoyed on their own or paired with hearty main dishes. The caramelized honey glaze can balance the savory flavors of ribeye roast prime rib, slow cooker pineapple brown sugar ham, and bacon-wrapped venison.
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Honey Roasted Carrots (Air Fryer)
SAVE THIS RECIPE
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 1 pound whole carrots (one 16-ounce package)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
- ¼ teaspoon table salt or ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Peel the carrots and cut them into pieces of similar length and thickness (about 2 to 3 inches). Cut the thicker ends in half lengthwise so they cook evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F to 400°F for 3 minutes.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the honey, oil, and salt. Add the carrots and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle with black pepper, if using.
- Place the carrots in the air fryer basket. Cook at 390°F to 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the carrots reach your desired tenderness.
- Transfer the cooked carrots back to the same bowl and toss them with any remaining honey mixture to glaze them before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
Scott W
Tasty, easy and quick.
Kathleen
I can’t ask for a better review than that! So glad you love them!
Scott
These are so easy and delicious anytime
Kathleen
Not to mention inexpensive, right?